Man City ‘considering’ resurrecting Messi interest next year

Manchester City’s chief operating officer has revealed that a move to bring Lionel Messi to the Eithad next summer is ‘being considered’.

The Argentine looked set to make the shock move to the Premier League in the summer when he made clear his intention to leave Barcelona, citing a clause that he believed existed in his contract.

But Messi was forced to stay at the Nou Camp for the final year of his deal, and may still look to in 12 months’ time after he went public with his anger that he was being forced to stay.

And Omar Berrarda has admitted that City could look to launch another move to reunite Messi with Pep Guardiola next summer.

‘He’s the best player in the world, he’s the best player of his generation. I think any club in the world would like to explore the possibility of him joining their team’, he told the Manchester Evening News.

‘It’s hard to guess what could happen. If you think back to those two weeks where everything played out at Barcelona, it’s almost impossible to guess what will happen next summer.

‘Messi is a generational talent, he’s the best player in the world and probably an exception to potential investments that we’d do out of the ordinary but our planning has been done with this current squad and it is being considered with the current opportunities that we have.

‘For every single position we have to be prepared because there can be so many things that can happen but at the same time I think we have the financial strength and system ability to make that investment [in a striker] when required.’

Messi has forced to perform an incredible climbdown last month, admitting defeat in his attempt to force a move to Manchester City.

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The 33-year-old confirmed he was staying at Barcelona until the end of the forthcoming season because the club had blocked his transfer by insisting on demanding his astronomical release clause was met.

‘I am going to continue at this club because the president has told me the only way I can leave is if I pay the €700million (£625m) and that is impossible,’ he said.